Developer ‘confident’ of resurrecting Balmain Leagues Club after lodging DA

TAWAR RAZAGHITWITTER MAY 4, 2018

A recent court battle has given confidence to a Chinese-backed developer, pushing ahead with a $135 million development application to redevelop the Balmain Leagues Club, despite its future uncertain with the government still looking into forcibly acquiring the site for a second harbour tunnel.

Heworth lodged its DA to the Inner West Council proposing to build three 12-storey towers on the Victoria Road site in Rozelle.

The proposed development includes a mixture of commercial floor space, 173 residential apartments including four affordable housing units, and a new leagues club as the centrepiece.

It comes after a beleaguered nine-year history of the now derelict club that has seen it wrestle debt, multiple development proposals, a court battle and a compulsory acquisition plan in 2009 by the then-Labour government for a metro station.

It faces the same fate yet again as the Berejiklian government earmarked it as an excavation site for the Western Harbour Tunnel despite being purchased for $75 million by Heworth last year.

But Heworth’s managing director Brian Hood said the state government’s plans are not right for the community or the site.

“The site has been sitting empty for nearly 10 years and it’s an eye-sore for the community. We’ve got a solution and it’s giving back to the community,” Mr Hood said.

“It’s much better than an excavation dive site for the RMS for eight years.”

He said while Heworth was always going to forge ahead with its plans to resurrect the club to its former glory with residential and commercial additions, the state government’s news did make them “pause for a moment”.

He said he was encouraged by fellow property developer Desane’s successful legal battle against the NSW government’s plans to forcibly acquire a large parcel of land integral to the final stage of toll road project, WestConnex.

“We’re not banking on going to court, we don’t want to go to court. But if it did go to court, other than the fact it would take another 12 to 18 months, we’re confident it would be approved,” Mr Hood said.

“The reality is the club was kicked out 10 years ago because of compulsory acquisition and we know what happened there … nothing,” he said.

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said council was yet to assess the development but welcomed the progress.

“In contrast to the previous owner of the site, the new owner’s revised plans have made the club the centrepiece. It’s good and it’s encouraging,” Cr Byrne said.

“But I want to have a very close look at the proposal and get professional advice,” he said.

Cr Byrne said the state government has refused to brief council or consult the community on a forcible acquisition.

He said it would be a “disaster” for the community if the government proposal went ahead and the court ruling in favour of Desane was proof the government has acted improperly and illegally.

“It happens they’ve fought someone with deep enough pockets to win a case. The only thing that acts as a barrier from forcible acquisition is public pressure and we intend to ramp that up,” said Cr Byrne.

A Roads and Maritime Services Spokesperson said the state government was committed to providing the community with further details by mid 2018.

“It is prudent to explore vacant or abandoned property to minimise impacts and disruption to local communities when considering major projects,” the spokesperson said.

“No decision has been made in regard to construction sites.”

“As with all major transport infrastructure projects, Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link will be subject to a rigorous and comprehensive environmental assessment process and extensive community consultation.”

Darcy will find something he doesn't like about it, protest and end up leaving it vacant for a dive site. I don't mind the guy, but he seems to do a good job at burning bridges which ultimately hurts the area.

Balmain Tigers to return to Rozelle in $135 million redevelopment
Kate Bastians, Inner West Courier Inner West
May 8, 2018 12:00am

THE Balmain Tigers will return to their spiritual home under a $135 million proposal to redevelop its dilapidated former club at Rozelle.

Heworth Development lodged a development application last Tuesday to transform the vandalised ruin on Victoria Rd into 173 apartments, shops and a new 2,200sq m club for the Tigers fronting a public square.

Heworth’s managing director Brian Hood said they were concentrating the development’s “mass” around Victoria Rd, where the height of three residential towers had been reduced by one level to between 11 and 12 storeys.

There would be a maximum of three storeys on Waterloo St.

Other key features include “Melbourne-style” laneways, increased commercial space and about 4,500sq m of retail space including a supermarket.

Heworth has come to an agreement with Inner West Council to reopen the 34-space carpark on Waterloo St — hopefully by the end of this month — after being asked to by local businesses and Balmain Greens MP Jamie Parker.

They would stay open until construction starts on the development, which would provide two hours free public parking for 126 cars.

Mr Parker said he was still concerned about the “bulk and scale” of the proposal but was open to working with Heworth to ensure a positive outcome for the community, who “don’t want to wait another ten years watching this site become more and more derelict.”

Mr Hood said they were “working within” existing planning controls and had made several changes to the design in response to community feedback.

This included slashing the amount of retail by more than half of what is allowed to reduce traffic impacts and aiming for speciality retail with more of a food and beverage focus, rather than competing with retailers on Darling St.

A “centrepiece” of the project was a “family friendly” Balmain Leagues Club containing cafes and restaurants with the number of poker machines to be reduced and pushed to the back of the venue.

Concept plans showing what the Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment will look like
Heworth hopes to start construction by the middle of next year and the project would take about three years to finish “if all goes to plan”.

Mr Hood said he would seek a meeting with Roads and Maritime Services after the agency flagged plans to compulsorily acquire the site as a construction zone for the Western Harbour Tunnel.

“We have received a notice from them that they’re looking to acquire it but we need to remember ten years ago the club got kicked out for a compulsory acquisition that didn’t go ahead,” he said.

The plans include a new 2,200sq m club for the Tigers fronting a public square, 173 apartments, shops including a supermarket and Melbourne-style laneways.
An RMS spokesman said no decision had been made and the State Government had committed to providing further details to the community in mid-2018.

“It is prudent to explore vacant or abandoned property to minimise impacts and disruption to local communities when considering major projects,” he said.

I hope this is the start of a clean up to what was a great old club , 12 levels is nothing just get it done , Parramatta will cop a 55 level soon on top of all the others they're doing , wasted time over 10 years to get this done is poor , 3 smart looking buildings with Club , Food , Supermarket , and apartments sound s good

Its laughable that the construction of this site has been thwarted when you look at the the amount buildings of size and scale that are being built all around Sydney metropolitan area. I think the repurcussions associated with the recent suggestion that the site may be acquired by the Westconnex is the catalyst that has the council eager to be more forthcoming in finally getting something happening.

If council are smart, they will be pushing for this hard given the alternative is to have a deep dive site in the middle of darling st. If that happens, you would think it's got to be the end of Darcy and his mob.

Its laughable that the construction of this site has been thwarted when you look at the the amount buildings of size and scale that are being built all around Sydney metropolitan area. I think the repurcussions associated with the recent suggestion that the site may be acquired by the Westconnex is the catalyst that has the council eager to be more forthcoming in finally getting something happening.

Or it may have been the catalyst for the developer quickly getting their DA in as it increases the potential price the government will have to pay for the site.

Its laughable that the construction of this site has been thwarted when you look at the the amount buildings of size and scale that are being built all around Sydney metropolitan area. I think the repurcussions associated with the recent suggestion that the site may be acquired by the Westconnex is the catalyst that has the council eager to be more forthcoming in finally getting something happening.

Or it may have been the catalyst for the developer quickly getting their DA in as it increases the potential price the government will have to pay for the site.

The government may be a little less bullish in their attempts to ride roughshot in acquiring property for this project, after failing to secure the Rozelle timber yards and with a hefty legal fee to add to on top of an already blown out budget.

On 1 May 2018, The Inner West Council (IWC) confirmed receipt of an impressive Development Application on behalf of Grand Rozelle Pty Ltd, for the Balmain Leagues Club site in Rozelle,

Of special interest to us all are the plans to return Balmain Leagues Club to its traditional home, where it will occupy a central position within a residential and commercial development.

The plans can be inspected at either Leichhardt (IWC Customer Service Centre, 7-15 Wetherill Street) or Balmain (Balmain Library, 370 Darling Street) between 12 June to 11 July.

I urge you to inspect the plans as soon as you can and attend a Public Information Evening at BALMAIN TOWN HALL (370 Darling St. Balmain) at 6pm on Thursday 14 June.

Be assured that the Board of Balmain Leagues Club is working constructively with Grand Rozelle Pty Ltd, to realise that dream we have kept alive for our nine long years of exile of a final home coming.

There are a number of financial matters yet to be determined but we have every reason to be optimistic that they will be formally resolved before long.

Your Board’s top priority is to have our Club return for all of our members as well as the wider community in which we all work, love and live.

Please make the effort to attend the Public Information meeting at 6pm, this coming Thursday 14 June at BALMAIN TOWN HALL. Rug up!

I hope for WT to be genuine joint venture between two financially successful clubs. Twice as much money coming in would be awesome.

I'm not starting a Wests v Balmain thing because both clubs have contributed in various forms to now, more recently with the Mighty Magpies running a good show and keeping my team in the comp. For that I will always be grateful, but we are one now and could benefit no end from a solid joint base. Could be a great outcome and ease financial pressure for the Wests clubs who have kept us afloat.

Sunshine Coast resident.
Tigers fan since birth in 1969.
Fond memories of Leichhardt Oval every home game as a kid with my Dad!